The Sayings of the Elders (Verba seniorum, Book VII)
What mourning or poverty borne for God’s sake brings about
Quid lamentatio vel paupertas, quæ fit propter Deum, operetur.
This book is not translated in the edition used; the Latin is given alone.
Sanctum Antonium requisivit frater, dicens: Quid faciam pro peccatis meis? Respondit: Qui vult liberari a peccatis, fletu et planctu liberabitur ab eis; et qui vult ædificari in virtutibus, per fletum lacrymarum ædificatur. Ipsa laudatio psalmorum planctus est. Memento exemplum Ezechiæ regis Judæ, sicut scriptum est per Isaiam prophetam, qui flendo non solum sanitatem recepit, sed etiam per quindecim annos augmentum vitæ promeruit, et supervenientem hostis exercitum, videlicet centum et octoginta quinque millium, per lacrymarum ejus rigationem, virtus Domini in mortem prostravit. Sanctus Petrus apostolus flendo recepit quod in Christum negando commiserat. Maria, quia cum lacrymis rigavit pedes Domini, meruit audire se optimam partem elegisse. Ipse timor Domini sanctus permanens in sæculum sæculi.
Beatus Macarius dixit: In veritate, si facta est monacho despectio quasi laus, paupertas sicut divitiæ, inopia sicut epulæ, nunquam moritur. Impossibile est bene credentem, et pie colentem Deum, cadere in passionem immundam et in errorem dæmonum.
Latin text: Verba seniorum, Book VII of the Vitae Patrum, translated from the Greek by Paschasius of Dumium for Abbot Martin (Martin of Braga), in H. Rosweyde’s edition as reprinted in Migne’s Patrologia Latina, vol. 73 (1879 reprint), cols. 1025–1062, checked against the scans; without the editor’s notes and cross-references, and without the Greek text of chapter XLIV printed in the notes. Public-domain text in France (art. L123-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code). Transcription and revision: Abbatia Sancti Petri de Curte. Report an error